Franklin County schools evaluate security measures in wake of shooting

Friday's events in Newtown, Conn., sent shockwaves through communities across the nation; As area schools begin the last week of classes before the holiday break, school officials are re-examining their own efforts to ensure the safety of students.

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By Colleen Seidel/The Record Herald

Waynesboro Record Herald - Waynesboro, PA

By Colleen Seidel/The Record Herald

Posted Dec. 17, 2012 at 12:15 PM

By Colleen Seidel/The Record Herald
Posted Dec. 17, 2012 at 12:15 PM

Friday's events in Newtown, Conn., sent shockwaves through communities across the nation, stunned at the loss of 20 first-graders and six school employees to the gunfire of 20-year-old Adam Lanza.
Local reactions have been no different. As area schools begin the last week of classes before the holiday break, school officials are re-examining their own efforts to ensure the safety of Franklin County students.
Reactions
At 9 this morning, the elementary, middle and high schools in the Greencastle-Antrim School District paused for a moment of silence in honor of the victims at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
“It's just - I try to look for the right word and I don't know that there is a right word,” said Dr. C. Gregory Hoover, superintendent of Greencastle-Antrim School District.
Dr. Rebecca Erb, superintendent of Tuscarora School District, said in a statement on the district's website that “as an educator and parent, an event like this shakes me to my core.”
“We grieve with the families and the community involved and we are keeping them in our prayers,” said Dr. Sherian Diller, superintendent of Waynesboro Area School District.
Security response
Districts across the county are reviewing security measures and action plans this morning in response to Friday's events.
“Unfortunately, I think these things give you reason to review (security). It shouldn't be the reason,” Hoover said.
He added that he would be reviewing security measures with building administrators this morning.
Greencastle-Antrim has taken steps over the past several years to increase security at its four schools, Hoover said. Such steps have included secured visitor entrances in the front of the buildings and keycard entrances at other doors.
The schools also practice intruder drills, Hoover said.
Dr. Joseph Padasak, superintendent of Chambersburg Area School District, said that while the events in Connecticut were “shocking and unfortunate, it would have been very hard to prevent.”
Chambersburg has its own security department, including a force of police officers who are armed and patrol the buildings, Padasak said.
“We're always reviewing, but there's always room for improvement,” he said. “We've communicated with parents and staff.”
In Waynesboro, principals met with teachers and staff this morning at the elementary, middle and high schools to review protocol and security measures, as well as speak with Waynesboro Chief of Police James Sourbier, according to Diller.
Working with police
Sourbier will also speak with Waynesboro middle and high school students about school shootings during assemblies scheduled for Jan. 8, Diller said. The assemblies were actually scheduled before Friday's events, she added.
Padasak said Pennsylvania State Police, which have a barracks in Chambersburg, contacted him following the shooting in Newtown. He plans to review security measures with both state and local police.
In Greencastle, Chief of Police John Phillippy reached out to the school district for a meeting on security measures, according to Hoover.
Erb affirmed in her online message that “Tuscarora School District will continue to enforce security measures and re-evaluate ... to make sure we are doing all that's reasonably possible to keep our children safe.”